jehangir jani

Born in Mumbai in 1955, Jehangir Jani, is a bachelor in commerce. An accountant by profession Jahangir Jani, took up art full time when he was 33.Talking about his inclination towards Art, the Artist says,” Things change, as you grow older. Subconsciously, I was always an artist. I remember I asked for a box of oils, when someone was going abroad in our family at the age of 12 years. Since then, I have always been closely in touch."

"A passion to be, to find his own God, to be defined as himself and not as a part of a group”, as he likes to put it, is what drives Jehangir Jani in his work. "It is said that I am an individual, but I belonged to a group. I feel sad to see so many lives on accepting their lot, knowing no better. One should not succumb to the herd instinct. I have captured the dynamism of an individual”

Jani is a self taught artist, as he hasn’t gone to any Art School that  “tends to kill reaction and gut feelings,” as he does not believe in tying his brush to any particular style or a school of thought, other than his own inspiration and style, which he has achieved through a process of elimination. As he says, ‘ I absorb the reality of every day events as they are seen and not as they are taught”.

Jani has explored various mediums such as –sculptures fiberglass, ceramics, metal sheets, watercolors etc. Jani has eventually found his true Medium of Expression in Sculpture, as he says, “ My inspiration spans from Graeco-Roman, Christian and Islamic myths to contemporary issues.”

Jani has held several Solo and Group Exhibitions of his works since 1990, including the ones at Jehangir Art Gallery (1995), Lakereen Contemporary Art Gallery (1999 & 2000), Gallery Chemould (2001), Guild Art Gallery (2002), with his most recent being the ones at Jehangir Art Gallery and Jamaat.

Jani has also conducted workshops in terracotta. His most recent exhibition was of works in fiberglass and sheet metal, eloquently titled' Stories'.

Jani lives and works in Mumbai.